title: Life-threatening infections in medically immunocompromised patients.
abstract: Chronic medical diseases, such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, cirrhosis, and heart failure, are associated with various immune defects that make affected patients prone to specific infections. This review discusses the epidemiology, pathogenesis, antimicrobial and surgical management, supportive care, and outcome of life-threatening infections associated with common chronic medical diseases.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Department, College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, PO Box 22490, MC 1425, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hasan M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Al-Dorzi
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Yaseen M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Arabi
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000502:physiology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000401:mortality*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents
keywords: Chronic kidney failure; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Critical illness; Diabetes mellitus; Heart failure